In a letter released late Monday night by President Biden’s physician, Dr. Kevin O’Connor, it was confirmed that Dr. Kevin Cannard, a Parkinson’s expert, visited the White House eight times over an eight-month span. Dr. Cannard, who has been the neurological specialist examining President Biden during his annual physicals, was not there to specifically examine the president during these visits, according to O’Connor.
Dr. O’Connor clarified that Dr. Cannard’s visits were part of his broader role at the White House Medical Clinic, where he supports the neurological health of active-duty members assigned to White House operations. Many military personnel experience neurological issues related to their service, and Dr. Cannard’s expertise is utilized in these cases as part of his general neurology practice.
O’Connor emphasized that President Biden has not seen a neurologist outside of his annual physicals. He also reiterated that Biden’s last physical found no signs of Parkinson’s disease, a detail he had previously shared in a letter dated February 28. The letter from O’Connor was released with permission from both President Biden and Dr. Cannard to confirm these details.
Dr. Cannard has been the neurology consultant to the White House since 2012. He was chosen for this role not because he is a movement disorder specialist, but due to his extensive training and high regard within the Military Health System. His wide expertise allows him to address a variety of neurological issues, making him a valuable asset to the White House Medical Unit.
Earlier on Monday, ABC News reported that an expert in Parkinson’s disease had visited the White House eight times between last July and March of this year, including one visit with the president’s personal physician. White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre, when asked about these visits, refused to confirm if Dr. Cannard had treated or consulted on the president’s care, citing privacy concerns. However, she did confirm that Biden was not being treated for Parkinson’s disease.
During a press briefing, Jean-Pierre was repeatedly asked about Dr. Cannard’s visits. She declined to elaborate on the nature of the meetings, citing security reasons and the privacy of the individuals involved. She did, however, confirm that Biden had seen a neurologist three times since becoming president, all during his annual physicals.
The White House visitor logs, which are posted voluntarily on the White House website, show that Dr. Cannard visited the residence clinic on March 28 and made six other visits over the previous several months. These logs were first reported by the New York Post. It remains unclear if Dr. Cannard has visited the White House in recent weeks, as the most recent logs have not yet been posted.
Dr. Cannard’s role at the White House Medical Clinic involves holding regular neurology clinics to support the thousands of active-duty members assigned to White House operations. This may explain some of his visits to the White House. His work is part of a broader effort to address the neurological health of military personnel, many of whom experience issues related to their service.
In his letter, Dr. O’Connor offered a strong endorsement of Dr. Cannard and his work. He noted that Dr. Cannard’s findings have been made public each time the results of the president’s annual physical have been released. O’Connor also reiterated that Biden’s last physical found no signs of Parkinson’s disease or any other central neurological disorder.
The February report from O’Connor stated that Biden, 81, continued to be “fit for duty and fully executes all of his responsibilities without any exemptions or accommodations.” The report included a detailed neurological exam that found no signs of conditions such as stroke, multiple sclerosis, Parkinson’s, or ascending lateral sclerosis.
Despite speculation about Biden’s health following a halting debate performance on June 27, the White House has consistently denied that Biden is being treated for Parkinson’s or any other neurological disorder. The administration has stressed that Biden’s neurological assessments have found no signs of such conditions.
White House Senior Deputy Press Secretary Andrew Bates stated that, like previous presidents, Biden is examined by a panel of doctors with different specialties during his routine annual physicals. Bates also confirmed that no examination has found that Biden shows symptoms of Parkinson’s.
In an interview with ABC News, Biden dismissed concerns about his mental fitness and stated that he would drop out of the race if he felt he was no longer capable of serving. He emphasized that he undergoes cognitive tests regularly and continues to fulfill his duties as president.
The White House has described Biden’s debate performance as a singular bad night, while some Democrats have publicly questioned whether Biden can serve another term. Despite these concerns, Biden has vowed to stay at the top of the Democratic ticket.
Source: ABC News, New York Post
